Telling people about this project sparks all sorts of questions, but for the most part they all wonder the same thing: what do vegans eat? I personally stick with my meal plan whenever possible, excluding breakfast. Rastall usually has good vegan food, including veggie burgers, countless tofu dishes, quinoa, salad, fruit, tempeh, soups and more. The Market section always has something to eat, and I have gotten in the habit of bringing tupperware in my backpack and taking veggies from the salad bar back to my room to eat with hummus. But let’s be honest: the vegan options are definitely hit or miss. Last night’s meatless Monday was a huge disappointment. Most of the food was all starch, and the only major protein source served was cheese. Even the global station’s theme was different types of potatoes. Really, guys? I nibbled an unadorned Gardenburger patty and reluctantly picked at my plate of root vegetable pie. In times like these, my key to success has been an arsenal of vegan food in my dorm room. It consists of protein bars, oatmeal, Kashi cereal, soymilk, dark chocolate almond milk, peanuts, fruit, tea, carrots, vegan chik’n nuggets, Amy’s frozen burritos and wraps, hummus, veggies, ramen, bagels, peanut butter and the like. If I feel like I haven’t gotten enough protein on a given day or I’m just hungry, it’s nice to have a backup. I also take plenty of vitamins. At The Preserve, I get pizza with (surprisingly tasty) mock cheese or whatever vegan daily specials they have to offer. Benji’s is a little more difficult. Even as a vegetarian I avoided it because most of their dishes are very meat-centric and tend to become lackluster in its absence. Take away the cheese and there’s even less little to look forward too. Still, I can get a Gardenburger with fries, a burrito with rice, beans, salsa and guacamole (no meat, cheese or sour cream), or a tofu teriyaki bowl with vegetables. I don’t recommend the latter.
The past eight days have had their ups and downs, but I have started to gain some momentum. My initial dairy cravings have begun to ever so subtly dwindle. I know a lot of people who argue that vegans ultimately cannot get adequate protein or nutrients in their diet. Giving up meat, eggs and dairy should leave me feeling like the walking dead, right? Not so fast. I actually feel significantly less sluggish. No more food comas after big meals. No more thoughtlessly noshing on junk with friends. I haven’t noticed a shortage of energy when I work out, either. Taking animal products out of the equation has forced me to eat more fruits and vegetables than I ever have. Sure, I have to be a bit more deliberate about eating enough protein, but all of the other nutrients most of us take for granted come a lot more easily. I can’t help but wonder if all of those skeptical omnivores know what the absence of these is doing to their energy level. I have always taken multivitamins, but let’s be honest – protein and pills don’t cut it. Every day I have the most balanced plate at my dinner table, one overflowing with greens, grains, fruits, legumes and vegetables. In The Immorality of Eating Meat, Mylan Engel Jr. describes the more drastic health benefits of a vegan lifestyle: “the CDH [coronary heart disease] mortality rate for [vegan] males was 86 percent lower than that of the California general population,” on study suggests (Engel 875). Veganism also combats cancer, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and more. I can surely get on board with that. My next objective is to do some actual cooking. One of my goals with this project was to feel more aware of and connected to the things I eat. I feel like much of this process revolves around aversion, and I want to start taking more positive action.
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